Get wireless hotspot off the shelf

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Australian broadband solutions provider NetComm has released the HS800 Wireless HotSpot Gateway, which lets organisations create a wireless broadband network straight out of the box while avoiding the need for infrastructure and billing systems.

According to NetComm managing director David Stewart, the HS800 will allow a diverse range of organisations, from shopping centres to universities, to provide high-speed wireless access from anywhere.

With one of the barriers to wireless uptake being the process of getting connected and billed for the service, the HS800 avoids this step with users not having to be aligned with any particular carrier.

“Customers don’t need to sign up with a particular service provider and there is no need to visit a Web site and log on with their credit card details,” Stewart said.

The HS800 also allows providers to fully customise their billing systems, and tailor their services to block access to certain Web sites or use tools to create marketing promotions.

Up to 253 users can be connected to the HS800 at any one time, while also having access to peripheral devices such as printers or scanners.
Using a wireless enabled laptop or PDA-type device, wireless Internet users are able to connect through the HS800 to an established broadband connection from just about anywhere, with security being ensured through secure sockets layer authentication, wired equivalent privacy (WEP) and IP / MAC address blocking.

Sydney-based ISP Chilli Internet has deployed the HS800 at the VGM cafe in St Leonards, where according to cafe owner and Chilli Internet sales and marketing director Victor Guerrero, uptake has been very encouraging.

“There is clearly a ground swell for greater mobility in communications, and wireless Internet is the next logical step,” Guerrero said.

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